Prealpi Mountains
The Preapli Mountains
Hiker's Guide to the Northeastern Regions of Italy
The Prealpi Venete are Groupped into the following formations: Monti Lessini - Piccole Dolomiti - Altipiani Asiago - Grappa - Soligo - Col Nudo Cavallo- Clautani - Cornagèt Caserine - Preapli Giulie.
These mountains were formed by the same plate movement that created the Alps, but since the Dolomiti had already been formed the naming of the group became the Prealpi, or beginning Alps. They are the mountains a traveler sees as they cross the main train lines fro Milano to Venezia and the unique eco zone that has been created because you can move from just below sea level to 2000 meter (more than 6000 ft in less than 30 kms). These mountains has been home to refugee's during invasions and utilized to develop trade goods for thousands of years.
| MT. LESSINIA | The Lesinia are the hills and mountain areas just north of Verona, bordered by the valle dell'Aldige on the east, the Piccole Dolomiti to the north and the Vicenza provience to the southeast. the mountain group is a plateau, with deep valleys descending towards the plain. The land formation was formed by both the sea tens of millions of years ago, evidenent by the abundant marine fossils found. and movement of the plate technonics. Rich in natural resourses the area has been exploted, for centuries, to create centers of civiliation. Today the communities in the area make a living from agriculture and cattle breeding, and up to the first decades of the 20th century there was a thriving wood crbon industry and the stocking and sale of natural ice. Today some of the area of the Lessinia has been created as an natural park offering recreation in both the summer and the summer. |
| PICCOLE DOLOMITI | A small group of mountains that is made up of the mountain formations of Pasubio, Cornetto, Carega, and Tre Croci . The area is best know as the front for the WWI and the therma resort of Recoaro. Today it the area still has an important textile industry along the Valstanga river and the remaining are small farms and hiking areas. |
| Altopiani Asiago | The community of 7 towns sets on a plateu above the city of Vicenza. Well know for Asiago cheese, cross country skiing, and relaxed mountain atomsphere. A unique zone of the Italy |
| Mt. Grappa | Mt. Grappa sits above Bassano del Grappa the once small commune that sits on Valstanga and the Brenta river. The mountain was one of the sites for the First World War and in modern times has become one of the classic bicycle climbs of the Italia biking folklore |
| MT. SOLIGO | The Soligo Mountain Group is off the beaten path of most, but the foothills include the Processo hills and other wine zones. The area is not as well developed for hiking but there are any classic bike routes in the area. |
| COL NUDO CAVALLO | This range runs from the south near Vittorio Veneto to the north past Belluno to Longarone. The peaks average 2000 meters and offers good cross country sking. |
| CLAUTANI | In the Friuli region these hills are very remote and and at one time this upper plateu was a seperate nation. |
| CORNAGET CASERINA | Like the Calutani group this area is under developed and not as frequented as other parts of the Dolomiti. |
| PREALPI GIULIE | These are the hills running from Gemone to Grozia and the Isonzo river. |
| MONTE BALDO | The chain of Monte Baldo extends between the Adige and Lake Garda. Because of its position in isolation from other mountains, extending toward the -plain, and dominating the lake, it offers exceptional views. At its feet and on its slopes covered with woods and meadows are many summer-vacation resorts. Vast snowfields are waiting to be opened to skiers. In the zone of Tratto Spino there are very popular snowfields served by the Malcesine cableway; in the zone of Costabella there is modern tow equipment (chair lifts and a cabin lift). |
The band of Venetian Pre-Alps extends in a semicircle from east to west, with the eastern most slope close to the Dolomites. This slope, which is in the provinces of Treviso and Belluno, includes the Treviso-Belluno Pre-Alps, Cansiglio, and the so-called Val' Belluna, between Belluno and Feltre. The Pre-Alps that form the northern border of the province of Treviso are a rolling ridge with woods and meadows. Toward the Val Belluna, the lines become even gentler and seem almost like hills; this is a sharp contrast to the southern side of the Pre-Alpine chain that slopes steeply toward the Venetian plain.The Val Belluna takes in the middle course of the Piave and is one of the most peaceful and relaxing valleys to be found. Here nature still seems to have superiority over the works of man.
Besides the cities of Belluno and Feltre, which have already been mentioned, the summer-vacation spots in the Val Belluna are the towns around Feltre and Pedavcna with their numerous villas; Aune and Sovramonte; the areas around Arten, Fonzaso, Arsie, and Lamon; Seren del Grappa; Lentiaie di Mel - with a very beautiful square; Trichiana; Passo di San Boldo; Nevegal; Cesio Ma(Jgiore; San Gregorio nelle Alpi, Sospirolo, Santa Giustina Bellunese and Sedico; and - in the Alpago - the peaceful hamlets of Pieve, Puos, Chies, Farra, and Tambre.
